April 2019
The Parish Newsletter of St Mary’s, Weston Colville and St Andrew’s, West Wratting The views expressed herein are those of the contributors. Printed by E & E Plumridge Ltd, Linton (Cambridge 891407) Tea and Cakes Thank you to everyone who helped out and attended our March gathering. We would like to give you advanced notice that all donations from our May Tea and Cakes will be Palm donated to the charity, ‘Stand up 2 Cancer’. Our next gathering will be on Friday 5th April, 3.30 - 5 pm, at the Reading Room. We look forward Sunday to catching up over a cuppa and a slice of cake. All welcome. Songs of Praise Melanie (291319) Saturday Morning Café, West Wratting th 14 April 4 - 5 pm Join us for a catch up over tea / coffee and delicious cake at the next café on Saturday 6th April between West Wratting Church 10.30 am and 12 noon in the village hall. The café works by different volunteers kindly offering Everyone welcome to serve and donate cakes every month. There is always a play corner set up for kids and a bookstall Child friendly songs with second hand books. The money raised continues to be donated to local community projects. This year, Bonfire and food afterwards all proceeds from the bookstall will go to Granta School. West Wratting Oil Syndicate Back by popular demand, Buttercups Pre-School will Boilerjuice won the March fill up for 20 households be running an Easter-themed arts and crafts table for with a price of 44.78 ppl + VAT. The next fill up will kids, and Sue Lock will also have a fundraising table be in May, with Tuesday 7th May at 6.30 pm as the at the café – she is running the London Marathon in order cut-off. April to raise funds for Arthur Rank Hospice. Richard Holness A team of villagers are looking at redevelopment opportunities for the playground. Please come and Weston Colville Oil Co-operative see the proposals at the April café and provide any There will be an oil order next month, with an order feedback or suggestions. cut-off date of 12th May. Full details in the next Sherry (290070) and Catherine (291307) Challenge.
!1 April 2019 Unit 1, Randswood Farm The Common, West Wratting West Wratting Over 60s Cambridgeshire CB21 5LR We will meet as usual at The Chestnut Tree at 01223 290275 rd [email protected] 12.30 pm, to include lunch, on Wednesday 3 April. www.peacockjoinery.com The following meeting will be on 1st May. Wendy Halls
Your local supplier of purpose made joinery Weston Colville Reading Room ‘Pub’ Quiz All types of joinery manufactured including doors, windows, We’ll be holding a quiz on Wednesday, 10th April at frames, kitchens, wardrobes, staircases. Fitting service available 8 pm. Up to four per team, entry £2 per person. Bar includes wine, cider and draft ale. All welcome, enquiries: [email protected], 291475. Weston Colville Seniors Allen is making slow progress but his move to rehabilitation has been delayed by another chest Weston Colville Cinema Club infection, which is very frustrating for him. The cinema club is having an Easter Our talk in March was about Reach in Haverhill. Ann break this month; next month, in a Allen, their Operations Manager, explained how the cinema club first, we’re showing an organisation was set up in 2005 as ‘Christians Against Irish film. The characters in ‘Sanctuary’ are a group Poverty’ before adopting the name ‘Reach’, which is living with intellectual disability, played by actors an acronym meaning Restore, Encourage, Action, living with intellectual disability. It subverts received Community and Hope. They run a drop-in centre and ideas about disability in its very approach to film the Haverhill Foodbank, and offer money advice and making – as the Guardian reviewer has it, “care, chaos provide starter packs for people moving into their first and comedy in the community”. Come and see it – home in Haverhill and the surrounding area, including it’ll make you think, it’ll make you laugh inside and I our own villages. hope you’ll leave the Reading Room feeling glad you watched it. The film will be in the Reading Room at This was followed by a short talk by Jaqueline,with 7.30 pm on Wednesday 1st May. Donations; some ideas for us to think about that we may like to refreshments available; all welcome. consider for our village community. We finished with a session of chair yoga with our own local teacher Charlotte. Our next meeting, on Tuesday 9th April at 2.30 pm in the Reading Room, will be with Janet Morris from West Wickham History Club. Her talk is called ‘Godolphin Arabian, Eclipse and Plenipotentiary: from Wandlebury to Horseheath via West Wratting – [email protected] , 291475 the Horseracing Connection’. This will be followed by chair yoga to end the afternoon. On Tuesday 14th May we are planning a tour of Ely Mutton and Lamb Cathedral with Chloe Cockerill; please let me know if you would like to go as soon as possible. Locally produced in Weston Colville Our meetings are open to anyone over retirement age, Available fresh by arrangement, or frozen. from any of our local villages, not just Weston Telephone Jerry to discuss requirements. Colville, so do come along and see what we do. Val and Allen (290837) 01223 290076 or 07970 154161 (Farringford, Mill Hill, Weston Colville)
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Weston Colville Circular Walk The Bumble Bees Baby and Toddler Group Our March walk was grey but happily dry as we The group meets every Tuesday (term missed the wind and rain that came the following time only) from 10 am to 12 noon in morning, so we had a good breath of fresh air walking The Reading Room, Weston via Carlton. Colville. £2.50 per session (plus 50p for every additional sibling.) There are many different toys suitable for 0 - 5 year olds, a different craft activity each week, a garden with outside play equipment, songs, stories and a drink and snack for both adults and children. Term dates and planned craft activities for the start of the summer term are as follows: Tuesday 2nd April Fluffy Sheep Tuesday 9th April CLOSED (Easter Holidays) Tuesday 16th April CLOSED (Easter Holidays) The next walks will be on Saturday 11th May, meeting Tuesday 23rd April St George's Day Dragons in the Reading Room at 10 am, and Saturday Tuesday 30th April Junk Modelling 20th July, meeting at a new place locally as a one-off, Tuesday 7th May Handprint Sunshine which we’ll put in July’s Challenge. For both walks Tuesday 14th May Blossom Trees BYO lunch and maybe something to share back in the Tuesday 21st May Cress Growing Reading Room afterwards. All welcome, Tuesday 28th May CLOSED (Half Term) refreshments available. Enquiries: Sessions return on Tuesday 4th June. [email protected], 291475. Beverley (07833 228958, [email protected])
Charter House West Wratting Village Hall Burrough Green Licensed for entertainment and sale of alcohol Newmarket Suffolk CB8 9NG Ideal for: ● weddings, family functions, children’s parties, meetings, JAGGARD & SON fundraising events & performances FIREWOOD ● spacious stage, modern kitchen & separate bar area quality logs cut and split to requirement ● disabled facilities ● excellent sound system COAL solid fuel to suit all fires ● furniture, crockery, etc also available for hire MULCH 01223 290270 graded woodchip for gardens etc [email protected] 01638 507330 07766 566226 www.westwratting.org.uk/village-hall/ [email protected]
!3 April 2019 All present had thoroughly enjoyed this book, with comments ranging from an amazing storyteller, beautifully written with a strong ending, really enjoyed, brilliant. One person felt that it was not necessarily pleasurable but was a good read. Others reminisced about their own experiences of the London canals and River Lea which make up a major part of the story. Slight criticisms were that that it dipped in the middle and one or two people were uncertain 07899 640912 wheatstonecarpentry.co.uk about the way it was structured. The quest for the [email protected] past is compelling and the history of certain aspects of West Wratting Playground Improvement post Second World War events, in England and abroad, fascinating. All would recommend it, with Residents of West Wratting and the parish council scores varying but an average score of 8 out of 10. would like to improve / upgrade the playground here in West Wratting. To start with, the existing We will next meet at The Chestnut Tree at 8 pm on th equipment and surface could do with a good clean, Wednesday 17 April to talk about ‘Becoming’ by but eventually we would like to replace the old play Michelle Obama. equipment with new. Linda Gorman (290653) A Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/ WestWrattingPlaygroundImprovement/ ) has been created to share ideas and opinions on the type of play Weston Colville Village and Garden Ramble equipment users would like, plus any ideas for 2.30 pm, Sunday 2nd June funding the project. In addition to our regular Weston Colville Circular Please ‘like’ and share this page with other people in Walks, we’re planning a leisurely Village and Garden the area who may be interested. Ramble on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd June. Your playground ideas and feedback can also be We’ll begin at the Reading Room and follow a shared at the Saturday morning café or sent via email circular route round Weston Green, Lower Wood, to [email protected] Church End and Mill Hill before returning to the At the next Saturday morning café, on 6th April, we Reading Room for tea. Along the way, there’ll be plan to show the ideas presented to us by two regular pauses for refreshments and snippets of local playground companies. Please come and have a look history as well as detours through a few gardens to if you have time. enjoy seeing the village from new perspectives. If Louise Chandler you’d be willing for the walk to take a detour through your garden, we’d love to hear from you – don’t West Wratting Book Club worry if you’re not Monty Don, the focus is on space rather than the plants themselves or Latin names. Our book for March was ‘WarLight’ by Michael Otherwise, if you’d just like to join us please save the Ondaatje. date, and more information will appear in May’s This book is set in the years after the war, based in Challenge. London to begin with but then set in various parts of Jacqueline Douglas England and around the world. It looks back at what ([email protected], 291475) preceded the opening events and the later Gabrielle Cliff Hodges consequences. It is based around two children left ([email protected], 290890) with a friend to look after them while their parents are Alan Ogden ([email protected], 291401) away. However, all is not as it seems and they become more and more involved in the shadowy world of their guardian and his mysterious associates.
!4 April 2019 PLUMBLINE) TIM PHILLIPS & Co. PLUMBING)AND)HEATING)ENGINEER) Accountants PROFESSIONAL+DOMESTIC+PLUMBING+SERVICE+ Independent, specialist service for: Including+Property+Maintenance+ Small Business • Self Assessment PainEng:+Tiling:+Plastering:+Carpentry+++++++++ Personal Taxation Call)John)on) Free initial consultation – no obligation 01223)893903) EASY, FREE PARKING Copley Hill Business Park, Cambridge Rd., Babraham [email protected]+ Off A1307 between Wandlebury and Babraham Fully+Qualified+and+Insured+ Tel: 01223 830044. www.tpaccounts.co.uk Friendly+and+Reliable+Service+ No+Job+Too+Small+ This question, which could be addressed to any one of St Andrew's Churchyard Clear-up us, echoes what lies at the heart of Christian worship The spring clear-up of our beautiful churchyard will at Easter time. Here we discern the radical generosity take place on Saturday 13th April from 10 am till and grace of God, reflected in the life, death and 12 noon. This is the weekend before Easter. resurrection of Jesus. The Greek word used by St Paul to describe the love of God for us in Christ is Everyone is welcome, and if nothing else, do come agape – which means the unconditional loving down for coffee, tea, hot cross buns and a chat. kindness of God towards humans. This is the love, as Colin McCall (290036) St Paul says in one of his letters, which ‘never ends’; the love which opens the door into a new creation. At Easter, we are also invited to trust in the power of From the Rectory Christ to re-create our lives today. To see the whole Lent has traditionally been a landscape of our lives enlightened by Jesus. In this time when people try to give light we see who we are, how we so often fail but also things up. Recently, however, how we are valued and loved by God. We see each there has been a trend towards a other as people valued by God, and our perspectives commitment to do something are changed. We see the world around us charged during Lent. A UK Christian with God’s glory, inviting our care and reverence. charity called Stewardship, for example, has created a When we start to see other people and the world movement called 40acts, which challenges people to around us in this light, we recognise that discerning see Lent in a different light and commit to acts of God’s presence and seeking to do acts of loving- kindness during this time. For eight years, 40acts has kindness are not just marks of Lent, but a way of asked a question: what if Lent could be about more being and doing which can help us walk through an than just giving stuff up? What if it could be a time of open door into a world transfigured by grace. radical generosity as well as spiritual discipline? Revd Iain McColl
www.westwratting.org.uk for information on:
What’s On Directory Parish Council Parish History Local Sports Village Hall Events Church News Parish Matters Village Calendar Please send us your contributions, events, notices, photos and comments.
!5 April 2019 London Marathon, 28th April GARDEN MAINTENANCE We offer a professional and reliable service I would like to thank all the kind people who have from lawn mowing to new planting projects. already sponsored me for this event. Running is Other services include tree surgery and something I have come to late in life and my progress hedge cutting. has been slow! However, I am determined to Please telephone Zara or Francis at complete the course and raise funds for Arthur Rank Hospice. This worthwhile organisation has touched Napier Garden Planning many local lives and we know that their support is so Tel : 01638 508847 appreciated. Westley Waterless, Newmarket If anyone would still like to sponsor me I will be at e-mail: [email protected] the West Wratting Café on Saturday 6th April, complete with sponsor form and collecting tin. To help tackle this issue the Cambridgeshire and Alternatively, donations may be left on my Virgin Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP) Money Giving site – just enter Sue Lock on the was set up to bring together people to support donate page. Once again, many thanks to you all. communities to prevent scams and provide support to Sue Lock victims. For more information and to see how you can help the local community beat the scammers, go Beware of Scams to friendsagainstscams.org.uk Scams come in all shapes and sizes, with it being Ray Vidler, Weston Colville Parish Council estimated that every year over 3 million people fall victim to scammers, losing £5 - 10 billion in the process. In addition to the financial detriment, the Weston Colville Marsh Tit Study effect on health and wellbeing can be devastating. No One important thing you can do now to aid local one is immune, with all ages being targeted. breeding of Marsh Tits and other birds is to put out However, senior citizens are a favourite target, with nesting material. Cotton, wool and natural fibre lint the average age of a victim being 75. from your clothes drier filter is ideal. Put it into an Scams range from people knocking on your door, to empty peanut feeder to stop the fluff blowing around fraudsters trying to get your personal details online. your garden. It's free, direct recycling and rarely The criminals attempt to trick you with official offered, so a magnet for breeding birds and a lot looking documents and websites, convincing cheaper than peanuts for bringing birds into your telephone sales patter and texts, with the aim of garden! persuading you to either: I have lots of clean cotton lint to spare, as I've been 1. Give them your internet passwords or your bank collecting it for years. (Yes, I'm a recycling devotee.) details – never do this If anyone wants some to attract nesting birds, just 2. Send a processing or administration fee contact me via [email protected], Mel at 3. Pay postal or insurance cost [email protected] or Challenge (the same places to which you send your invaluable Marsh Tit 4. Buy an overvalued product or have unnecessary work done sightings!). 5. Get you to make a premium rate phone call. NB If anyone sees the Loch Ness Monster in Weston Colville pond on April 1st, please don't bother We can all help to tackle scammers by reporting reporting the sighting. Even if you have the people targeting you or those you know. inevitably fuzzy photo . . . For telephone scams please contact the Citizens Enjoy the mostly yellow Daffodils, blue Squills and Advice consumer helpline on 0845 4040505. smelly white Ramsons this spring. For online fraud either report at Alex Inzani and your friendly neighbourhood www.actionfraud.police.uk or phone 0300 1232040 South Cambs Ringing Group
!6 April 2019 Ken Boreham Sadly, Ken Boreham passed away in hospital on Monday 11th March. Ken worked hard all his life helping the community and West Wratting Football Club (he was vice president for 35 years), and also helping with the pavilion and the recreation ground. Ken will be missed by all – a lovely caring man, who always made us laugh dancing with Pauline on his shoulders at the football dinner and dances. The family have always been very supportive. West Wratting Football Club held a minute’s silence Knitting Wool Request before the game on Saturday 16th March in memory of Many thanks to those of you who responded to my Ken. Pauline, Ian and Sara, Simon and Lynn were request for wool – I received plenty for Balsham present. Mothers’ Union members to knit 25 8-inch squares, We send our condolences to Pauline, Ian, Simon and which will be made into a blanket to commemorate all the family. the founding of the charity ‘Christian Hope International’ as a result of the Rwandan Genocide in On behalf of West Wratting Football Club, 1994. All knitting done by members in the Ely Blanche Miller, Pavilion Secretary Diocesan Mothers’ Union also goes to this charity. Joanna Sanders
West Wratting Football Reports Missing Cat Senior 1st Team – after a tough start to the season We are missing our cat, Poppy, who is white with with losing so many players, things took a while to black patches, black tail and majority black head, and settle down, but the 1st team is sitting in fourth place very timid. We, especially my daughter, are desperate at the moment which is a huge achievement after to find her, so please could we ask people to keep a everything we have had to deal with. Some very good look out and check their sheds/outhouses; we would young players have been brought in who have fallen really appreciate it. Thank you for everyone's help so in love with the club, and the future looks bright for far. next season, when hopefully we can challenge for the league again. Michael Bavester, Manager
Youth Report – this season we have four youth teams, three of which play in non competitive leagues, so I am not allowed by the rules of the mini league to discuss their results. I can say that the u8, u10 and u11 teams are playing in the top leagues in their respective age groups. If you do see her, please, please can you call Katie on 07714 280296 or Gary on 07850 253496. We are The u12 team, which I can discuss, are sitting fourth staying at Pound Farms Barns, Weston Colville. in their league. Richard Cole, Chairman
!7 April 2019 PEST CONTROL SERVICES AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC
CLUSTER FLIES, LOFT AREA, RABBITS, RATS, MICE, MOLES, WASPS & INSECTS
CONTACT R DANIELS 01223 290570 / 07773 682676 West Wratting Parish Council Traffic Issues: a) Access to High Street from Spicers Close – the th At the meeting held on 11 March the following items residents of Spicers Close wish to put up a mirror were discussed. Drafts of the minutes are posted on to help with access to the High Street. A decision/ the village noticeboards and shown on the website. visit is awaited. If the mirror was positioned on Footpaths: Colin McCall would like more volunteers private property this would be acceptable but to help with keeping the footpaths in good order, would require planning permission. particularly for the Weston Colville area. b)Footpath along Six Mile Bottom Road – this is a Parish Council Vacancy: Barry Glennon-Lynch was good idea and District Cllr Batchelor suggested co-opted onto the council following a vote after being applying to Greater Cambridge Partnerships who proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Cllr are keen to promote and fund cycleways. Roberts. c) Play Area – Ben Willcocks, Cllr Chandler, Cllr Glennon-Lynch and Alex Brown had discussed the Jacqueline Douglas (Community Worker under the options, being: a) tidying up and repairing those Parish Nurse Plus Project) spoke of her role in items reported by RoSPA, and jet washing supporting the Parish Nurse, her areas being West surfaces for the present, followed by b) a major Wratting, West Wickham and Weston Colville, in design for a completely new play area. Two finding out the needs of people with regard to schemes have already been looked at and another transport, activities, facilities and a key part is to is expected. The cost will be approximately access services. Age UK and Reach are associated £60,000 - 80,000, so a great deal of fund raising with this scheme. A Community Hub meeting will be would be needed. It is hoped to put these designs held each month in Balsham Institute as advertised in on display at a Saturday Café morning. Challenge where all those involved in the scheme will be on hand to help and advise. For contact, her email Dates for 2019/2020 Parish Council meetings: th address is: [email protected]. Monday 13 May (including Parish Meeting beginning at 7.30pm), 8th July, 9th September, Finance: details in the draft minutes. 11th November, 13th January 2020, and 9th March. West Wratting Village Hall: the chairman, Mike Jenny Richards Rowland, is hoping to raise funds to cover the cost of replacing the folding doors without using parish ∆ Eastern Counties Oil Services council funds. He agreed that any large project would be carried out by the parish council as they could ✓ Boiler and range cooker servicing reclaim VAT. ✓ Grant boilers registered G-One Plus installer ✓ Free 5 or 10 year guarantee on new Grant boilers Recreation Ground & Pavilion: the next meeting ✓ Pressurised hot water systems registered installer th on 13 March will discuss gating the grounds. The ✓ All aspects of plumbing and heating work undertaken management committee also wishes to apply to create ✓ 24 hour emergency service available boreholes for watering the pitches. Weston Colville: 01223 291374 or 07827 810344 [email protected] !8 April 2019 Weston Colville Parish Council Annual Parish Meeting and Parish Council Meeting th At the meeting on Monday 4th March the following will be at 7 pm on Wednesday 15 May. items were discussed and where necessary agreed. Traffic calming – a brief discussion was held with Emma Knight from SCDC will be attending the next Cllr Batchelor; a Highways Officer needs to be paid to Combined Parishes Meeting to listen to concerns inspect the area before an application is submitted. raised about the Icknield Way Byway, before opening Cllr Batchelor to look into the cut-off date for the the consultation about gating it; sufficient evidence application. has been provided by Weston Colville, more is needed Gritting – there have been complaints from from the other villages. parishioners about the lack of gritting on The Green Planning – S/0691/19/FL Weston Woods Farm, and Common Road, the route used by public and Common Road, Weston Colville – replacement/new school buses. Cllr Batchelor to enquire with farm buildings and drainage attenuation within Highways. existing farmstead. No objections; buildings will not Playground – for the annual playground inspection, be visible from the road or by the public and are for ROSPA has quoted £95 per area (plus VAT) and agricultural use. requires an additional £38 fee if the clerk attends the Website update – the website is ready, the next stage inspection. An independent inspector, David Bracey, is securing a domain name, and email addresses. has quoted £135 plus VAT to inspect both areas, Photographs of the village and councillors to be which the clerk can attend for no extra fee. Clerk added, and all the council policies and standing instructed to appoint David Bracey. orders, and a section for Challenge. The clerk has Dates of meetings – enquired with CAPALC whether any Transparency •Annual Parish Meeting, 15th May, 7pm Funding is available to add the minutes and agenda •Full Council Meeting, 15th May, 7.30pm from previous years. Dates of parish council meetings in 2019: Road drain clearance and repair update – no • Full Council – 1st July, 2nd September, update. A missing highways manhole cover was 4th November reported in Church End for Cllr Batchelor to chase. • Planning (if required) – 1st April, 3rd June, Footpaths and rights of way – Cllr Batchelor to 5th August, 7th October, 2nd December. enquire about possible routes for redirecting footpath Jessica Ashbridge ([email protected]) 19, as replacing the bridge would be very costly for the land owners. Also enquiring about installing a Reports by County Cllr Harvey & bridge for the footpath by the Methodist Chapel. District Cllr Batchelor Dog waste bin – working party required; Cllr Jackson Council Tax – both the County and District Councils is to organise a working party to swap the small red have the ability to raise council tax each year. They bin from the cricket pitch with the new bin, and to site (almost) always take this option up and have both the small bin on the opposite side of the road next to done so this year, with the District raising their rates the footpath. Once this has occurred the clerk is to by 3.56% and the County raising their rates by 4.98%. inform SCDC for their collections. Neighbourhood Plan – congratulations to Great Tenders for grass cutting for 2019 – four tenders Abington Parish Council for being the first parish in were received for grass cutting of the amenity sites South Cambs to get their Neighbourhood Plan and cutting the verges. Following a discussion it was adopted, a long and arduous process. We will be proposed that Trevor Potter would continue to cut the meeting with the cabinet member responsible shortly verges, and the clerk was instructed to discuss fees to see if there are any prospects of simplifying and with another party, and if resolved to instruct them to speeding up the process. cut the amenities. Shire Hall – the County Council is relocating to Date for the meeting in May – the clerk cannot Alconbury, in an attempt to save money by not using attend the meeting on 20th May, or 13th May. The the expensive Shire Hall location.
!9 April 2019 I & S GROUNDWORKS LTD Your Local Company for Driveways Patios Foundations Drainage Site Clearance Please call Ian Boreham on 07831672907 or [email protected] Simon Boreham on 07768821364 The Meadow School own poetry, produced fabulous art work and wrote their own poems. Shortly after this, the children were Mrs Tinsley has taken Year 5 and 6 teams to various offered the chance to submit a story for the Radio 2 tournaments this month, a fantastic opportunity for ‘500 Word’ competition, a hugely successful national children to be involved in playing sports they might competition, but as a school we chose to hold our own not often get the chance to play. The QuickSticks smaller competition. Mrs Butcher was inundated with hockey tournament took place in Comberton, where fantastic stories and had the very difficult job of the children were playing against other schools from judging the stories to find three winners from different across Cambridgeshire. The teams played age groups. Huge congratulations to Anoushka enthusiastically and finished fifth and second in their Trivedi, Esther Morris and Daisy Nott for their rounds, with the A team only one point away from the winning entries. finals. We are always very proud of how well the children represent The Meadow School, with a We are continued to be committed to develop Arts fantastic ‘have-a-go’ attitude and politeness towards across the school and Miss Copare is always on the other players. We are looking forward to seeing how look out for an interesting range of music and art the school gets on in the forthcoming Tag Rugby groups to perform to the children. This term we had tournament and Cross-Country competition. Song Speil, who base their performance on a th March 7 was World Book day, where we spent the poetry book called whole day immersed in ‘The Lost Words’ by Robert ‘Moon Juice’. The show MacFarlane and Jackie Morris. This book is a consists of a wonderful celebration of nature words and the natural world they creation of shadow evoke, through spell-poems in the form of acrostic puppetry, opera singing poems. It is beautifully illustrated and written, and imaginative drama, providing a perfect opportunity to combine both art accompanied by a piano. It was certainly unlike any and literacy for the day. The children enjoyed performance we have ever seen, but was a real treat to spending time outside looking for inspiration for their see how different artistic styles can come together. We are now looking forward to our own Year 3 and 4 01638 428 060 production of ‘King of all Polar Bears’ at the end of 01223 832 928 www.Rothwells.biz the month.
Carpet Cleaning As Easter nears, we are once again reminded of how Stone Floor, Upholstery & Rug Cleaning fortunate we are to teach enthusiastic children, with a A few points that make us stand out from the others, love of learning. We are very grateful to all our Rothwell’s has been in business since 1993. We’re an honest local family firm. fabulous volunteers from within and outside our Our large truck mounted machines mean more cleaning & drying power for the best results possible. school community who enable these experiences to Members of both the NCCA and TACCA. take place. We wish everyone in the community and We will move the furniture for a thorough clean. 100% satisfaction or it’s FREE. school a very happy Easter.
Call Oliver and Max Campbell for expert help today. Nichola Connor, Headteacher
!10 April 2019 Weston Colville Reading Room Available for Hire
for Parties, Functions, Fitness, Art, Hobby and Music Groups, and Meetings. Recently renovated with kitchen and bar facilities and sound equipment. Licence for Alcohol and Live Music. 01223 290292 www.thereadingroom.org.uk Marsh Mail In recent months we have developed stronger educational links with Cambridgeshire Constabulary. The national press has been dominated by Our students have benefited from police sessions very sad news of teenagers whose lives entitled ‘What’s the Point?’ including an appreciation have been tragically cut short as a result of the facts and consequences of carrying weapons. of knife crime. Sometimes it is tempting to believe The police have also contributed to input about county such issues happen elsewhere; that extreme anti-social lines (gangs that target young people to take and sell behaviours are restricted to other parts of the country drugs across county borders). It is important that our and are not relevant to our own communities. children are aware of practices that seek to exploit While less rural areas may be more prone to criminal them and entice them into criminal behaviours. behaviours, this does not make villages such as Linton Peer pressure has become more sophisticated and immune to them. significant with the development of technological Young people have always been susceptible to risk- communication and mobility. Research into the rise taking behaviours. The adolescent brain is in the in online grooming, facilitated by social media process of regulating thrill-seeking impulses. platforms, has coincided with a spike in adolescent Meanwhile, the transition to adulthood creates greater mental health issues. independence and opportunities that may compromise The African proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ children’s safety and wellbeing. is particularly relevant at the moment. More than At Linton Village College, our PSHE (personal, ever, our young people need responsible adults in social, health and education) curriculum helps their communities to keep them safe and prevent them students to develop an appreciation of how their from seeking acceptance by more dangerous means. bodies and minds work. We encourage our learners to Reporting concerns to the college ([email protected]), be reflective and self-aware as well as educating them the police (www.cambs.police.uk/report/Report-Shared/ about potential harmful influences in order that they Report-a-concern) and students’ families is integral to can keep themselves and others safe and healthy. this. Helena Marsh, Principal The Chestnut Tree West Wratting [cocoon] CAMRA Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year 2014 wellbeing + beauty Handsome Victorian Free House combining the relaxed Waxing OPI manicures + pedicures charm of a village local with a traditional menu of Comfort Zone Facials hearty home cooked food. Massage + aromatherapy Constantly changing selection of 4 real ales, plus Gifts + vouchers a real cider, to enjoy in our fully refurbished bars inner lather Soaps or in our beautiful garden. 01223 290886 You won’t find any gimmicks here, High Street, West Wickham just a great village pub! 01223 290384 www.chestnuttreepub.co.uk
!11 April 2019
We service and repair all garden machinery. Field Compost Ltd We also have a fully stocked showroom with We’ll Help Your Garden Grow new and secondhand machines ranging from Soil Improvers strimmers through to ride-on tractors. Composts Manure Free collection and delivery. Soil Bark Woodchip Gog Magog Mower Services Mulch Unit 1, Copley Hill Business Park, Babraham Lawn Care Horticultural Sundries 01223 832894 [email protected] www.fieldcompost.co.uk www.gogmagogmowers.co.uk [email protected] 01440 966966
2523 Linton Squadron Air Training Corps A recent sector skills weekend saw seven Charity Bingo Night Linton cadets achieve their ‘Youth First Aid’ award, five cadets achieve ‘Bronze Leadership’ awards and one cadet pass his weapons handling test on rifles. This is all part of our new progressive training syllabus. There’s never a dull moment with regular flying Friday 10th May allocations coming through and more shooting too. 7:00pm – Eyes down at 7: pm There has been a wing-wide push to get cadets Chippy’s delivery at 8:00pm passing their weapons handling tests and we now have cadets qualified to shoot the L98A2. Balsham There has been an excited buzz on the squadron since hearing that blank firing field exercises are taking Church Institute place. This involves the use of various pyrotechnics Fish / Sausage Chips Supper and blank firing rifles and we have cadets training First Drink ready for the first of this type of exercise for many Ticket Price £10 years. First Game Additional Game £2 As always, we have space for new cadets on the Order your ticket at squadron; please contact me for details. [email protected] Civilian Instructor Brad Wright (07943 873272, All proceeds to go towards end of [email protected]) term party for Buttercups children.
Caroline Pinkham-Smith MCFHP MAFHP Foot Health Practitioner Nail Trimming, Corns, Callus, Fungal & Thickened Nails, Cracked Heels, Ingrowing Toe Nails, Athlete’s Foot, Verrucas 07969 253674 Home visits and Clinic appointments available
!12 April 2019
Feline-only veterinary clinic, providing stress free care for both you and your cat. 01223 880707 [email protected] Cox’s Drove, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HE Feline better!
1st Horseheath Brownies The Ellesmere Centre, Stetchworth We have just returned from our annual Brownie holiday to the Jarman Centre, where eight Brownies Do you or a loved one have Parkinson ’s were unicorns for the weekend. They made masks, a disease, MS, or polio, or have you been unicorn inspired pudding and sparkly snow globes, referred by a doctor to attend exercise decorated CDs as unicorns, and had unicorn classes? A new group will be starting in hobbyhorse races. They also completed their Wildlife April offering chair-based exercise and Explorer badge; for this they had to make bird feeders gentle use of spin-bikes. The group welcomes all and identify three different butterflies, birds and abilities, and partners and carers are welcome to mammals as well as looking and listening for different watch or join in. Refreshments will be available wildlife at the Jarman Centre. We were joined by afterwards. Please contact Julie in the office if you Guides and Rainbows on Saturday; the Guides did are interested in coming along. outdoor cooking and the Rainbows joined the There will be a Coffee Morning on Wednesday Brownies in their unicorn crafts and they also went on 3rd April , with homemade cakes and a raffle, in aid of a trail to find their lunch. this exercise group. We have started on the new Brownie programme with Family Yoga Sessions are now running on Tuesdays the ‘Take Action’ theme, and so far we have made from 4.15 pm; please contact monsters out of recycled materials, designed the [email protected] greatest place on earth, and discussed our opinions on Multisports and Craft days on Tuesday 9th, different subjects. We still have two more topics to Wednesday 10th, Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th cover which we hope to finish by the end of term, as April. Please book early to avoid disappointment, at well as making Mothering Sunday cards and www.slsportanded.co.uk something for Easter. It’s never a dull moment when th you’re a Brownie. Gymnastics Fun Day on 11 April; contact [email protected] to book your child in. Pauline, Katie and Laurené ([email protected]) Roller Skating on Thursday 18th April, 2 - 4pm. All HOME ANIMAL CARE abilities welcome; £2 to skate, £1 for skate hire. Tuck Let me take care of your pets, shop. Just come along, no need to book. while you are out at work or away The mini-gym has now reopened after its on holiday. I am a very responsible refurbishment. It has a cross trainer, a and reliable registered Pet Sitter, with many years’ treadmill, an upright bike and a spin bike. experience. I am fully insured and would like to Cost: £5 per hour with exclusive use (a have the opportunity to care for your pets. maximum of two friends can share the slot Phone: Catherine 01223 291411 / 07778 921334 with you). Call for details. [email protected] The Ellesmere Centre, www.ellesmerecentre.org.uk [email protected] (01638 508212. [email protected]) National Association of Registered Pet Sitters
!13 April 2019
M desert covers approximately 250,000 square miles,
O half being in the USA and half in Mexico, in the state P of Sonoro. S
CUTTING & COLOURING H The Oxford English dictionary describes a desert as
A ‘an uncultivated, sparsely inhabited tract of land, a
HAIR BY JO DENNY I R wilderness, now specifically a waterless and treeless
WOMEN |MEN |CHILDREN S region’. It can also be described as a place where A water demand exceeds supply! L O Alice informed us that temperatures in the summer
41 LINTON HIGH STREET | T: 01223 893 285 N (BEHIND BOSWELL’S BAKERY) could reach 48o C. In the winter rainfall is a light drizzle, the majority of the rain falls in the monsoon season between July & September, but this rain runs West Wickham & District Gardening Club off the land. The climate is subtropical. On 18th March the club welcomed Colin Ward from Despite dictionary definitions, apart from the obvious Swines Meadow Farm Nursery in Market Deeping. cacti & Agave plants, flowering trees and shrubs do Colin and his wife Karen decided to concentrate on survive in this region, as Alice’s slides revealed. their ever increasing plant collection rather than trying One interesting species is The Saguaro it is a to farm at the same time, so they specialise in unusual protected tree like cactus, which grows to over 40 feet plants, and the tables were filled with so many tall and is the Arizona state symbol. The plant may goodies I think our members imagined all their live to over 200 years old. It produces white waxy birthdays had come at once. Colin described each of flowers between April & June, and a red fruit 6-9 these plants, many of which were coming into early inches long which ripen in June. The flowers open at bloom and leaf. As a gardening club we try to offer a sunset and produce a perfume, which during the day variety of talks and some could be, if not educational, attracts hummingbirds and gila woodpeckers to the perhaps instructive. We all learned a lot about these nectar. Bats & moths are the main pollinators. The gorgeous plants and many were bought and native Tohono O’odham people harvest the fruit in happily carried off at the end of the evening. June & July, and the families stew it for several hours Next month we have another timely talk – Matthew to make a sweet syrup. Long from Riverside Bulbs at Monks Eleigh will tell Alice explained that desert plants are not dull, they us about planting bulbs for summer colour. This is on provide structure & make an attractive garden but she April 15th at 7.30 in West Wickham Village Hall. advised to plant our desert loving plants well in Our FABULOUS PLANT SALE will be on 18th May, advance as they can take a lifetime to grow! 10.30 - 12.00 noon, so DO NOT miss it. Happy With our hotter summers, next month’s speaker will gardening! prove very useful to us all, gardeners or not. On Rosemary Yallop Tuesday 2nd April in the Meadow school, 7.15 for 7.30 pm, we will have a presentation from Anglia Balsham Gardening Club Water on ‘Water Conservation’. There will be light refreshments and a raffle. Guests £3. All welcome. For our February meeting our own th member Alice Warley, very expertly Dates for your diary: Plant sale, Saturday 25 May told us about her experiences of plants at the Prince Memorial, and members’ evening th of the Sonoran desert, in Arizona. Alice has been meeting: 8 May, at Easton Lodge near Dunmow. visiting a friend in this region for several years. Her Cost £6.50; details at the April meeting. knowledge and enthusiasm for these seemingly Hazel Leeson desolate areas was evident and we were surprised to learn about the abundant plant life, its uses, and how it is adapted to this harsh environment. The Sonoran
!14 April 2019
SJW Cleaning Services Please Say Instead of DNA! Est. 1985 For all your cleaning needs In January, Granta Medical Practice’s clinicians saw / Window cleaning using spoke to 20,256 patients. This number includes traditional or Reach & Wash urgent appointments, routine appointments and methods Covering Weston Colville and telephone appointments. Unfortunately, there were an West Wratting since 1985 extra 1,026 appointments that patients did not attend Home: 01223 956260 (DNA). Mobile: 07789 682199 February’s appointments totalled 17,876, but again [email protected] there were additional DNAs – 1,043! www.sjwcleaning.co.uk Sometimes it can be difficult keeping to an Grant Funding – Small & Medium Businesses appointment date and time. However, if you ring and Small and medium businesses in cancel even half an hour beforehand we would be able Cambridgeshire can access grant to reuse your slot for another patient. You can also funding and free energy efficiency cancel your appointments online. Using SystmOnline reviews, thanks to ERDF funding. allows you to book, cancel and rearrange The Business Energy Efficiency appointments as well as requesting repeat medication programme can potentially provide and viewing your summary care record. Call into grant funding up to a maximum of £20,000, or 25% of your local surgery or see our website for further project costs, to eligible businesses for energy information. efficiency improvement measures such as LED Please say instead of DNA! lighting, heating, insulation and solar PV. Sandra East, Granta Communications (0300 2345555) The pot of grant funding is limited and businesses are urged to register their interest by 30th June at www.beecp.org/sign-up , or call 01733 882549, or email [email protected]
Free Business Seminar On average there are 165 fires in business premises each year, with many of those businesses not going on to trade again. Attending a FREE business seminar with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service can help you to get the support you need to keep your business safe from fire and to ensure those working there are protected. We are determined to support and inform business owners across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on fire safety legislation and to help you put together a free fire risk assessment to help you to protect your business from fire. Our seminars run across the county in various locations and can additionally be arranged ad-hoc to requirements wherever possible. For more information on upcoming seminars or to book a place contact us on: 01480 444 500 or book online at www.cambsfire.gov.uk.
!15 April 2019 R BRISTLEY 9 COLLINGS PLACE, NEWMARKET BRUSH ELECTRIC SWEEP • All Chimneys Swept • Solid Fuel, Oil & Gas • Cowls, Nets & Pots Fitted • Stoves Repaired & Inspected • Carpets Cleaned • Competitive Prices • Very Clean • Classic Wedding Car Hire (White 1972 Citroën DS21) • Public Liability Insurance ☎ Newmarket1974 (01638) 662439 Est David’s Expedition traps, where the only thing the fishermen caught was plastic. Hopefully this means that most of the rubbish Cambodia is a beautiful country, but has a dark side that the fishermen make is deposited on land, but I that I have attempted to bring light to. doubt this. It doesn’t matter, as I would predict that In Laos I decided to paddle to Vietnam and document come monsoon season, it all gets washed down to the the plastic tide down the Mekong. This was a sea anyway. massive learning curve, as my first kayaking At Ruessej Chrouy, 25 km north of Cambodia’s expedition, in a country that I’d never been to, which capital Phnom Penh, the beach was around 2 km long, speaks little to no English, and solo at that! completely filled with rubbish, with a couple of The owner of the hostel in Don Det was doubtful that hundred people milling about their everyday business. my homemade hammock would work so gave me one With many beautifully decorated fishing boats of his old and slightly broken ones. This set a trend moored to the bank, it was clear this was a popular and I was given gifts of food and little bits and pieces site to sell the goods the Mekong provided. Families that I could not find in the Loatian markets. This was ate, worked and lived in this rubbish heap, but didn’t a great confidence booster and I will always be seem to mind. grateful for the parting gifts and support from backpackers just before I left. I can understand why around the mooring sites in a town there was so much rubbish generated by the river people. With no easy alternatives, and lack of knowledge on plastic leakage etc, the fishermen discard all their rubbish on the bank because any extra weight that they and their family generate just slows From this point onwards,even when there were no their boat down and costs them more in fuel. buildings on the banks, I still couldn’t paddle more than 5 m without paddling past a piece of plastic. Although there was a lot of rubbish on the sides of the Ranging from full bin bags to small bottle caps, it was river, I found very everywhere. All the way down to Vietnam, the little floating in problem stayed pretty constant and almost certainly the river. There got worse further into the delta, were several occasions that I At one point, on a beach where a lot of plastic had found it in washed up, I saw a man and his son walking down mangroves, which and collecting the bottle caps (made from a valuable essentially act as plastic that can be recycled) to sell back to the natural filters for companies. They also collected aluminium cans and the rivers, and glass bottles that are heavily recycled in Cambodia (or again in fishing sent or sold to another country for recycling) and have been so for some time. It was unclear if this was how
!16 April 2019 they made the majority of their money, but they were definitely there for profit and not to clean the beaches. This was still encouraging, as it shows that there is value in other people's rubbish, which could be a turning point if everyone was aware of this. Plastic Free Cambodia are leading the charge on Sing Joyfully educating local people and organizations in the A concert of an eclectic mixture of sacred and secular music to welcome the spring importance of living plastic free lives, or at least close as to them as possible, and I would like to thank everyone that contributes to such a great organization. I am so proud to be raising money for a program that has such a great leadership and education mission. Thanks to everyone who has donated, or will donate. I have been humbled by your generosity, which has spurred me on since I made my Go Fund Me page
(gf.me/u/q3w73p). Please carry on sharing the campaign and its updates, as this was the main aim for Returning by popular request creating the page, although the money is greatly Tapestry Singers appreciated by myself, Plastic Free Cambodia and The locally renowned a-cappella group
Surfers Against Sewage. Please feel free to contact th me on Facebook, Instagram or email me: SATURDAY 27 April AT 7.00PM ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GREAT ABINGTON [email protected] David Brearley Tickets £10:00 under 18’s FREE Complimentary drinks served during the interval
Tickets available from: The Village Shop: Anne Hall 892275: Marilyn Broadhurst 893214 Mary Miles 891083: Tony Collett 893447: Graham Ross 891564 In aid of Abingtons St Mary’s Churches
Supported by: The Three Tuns Great food, great beer, Great Abington
Weston Colville facebook Page Weston Colville has a facebook page, where information can be shared, especially if it needs immediate attention or note. Peter Milner (290540)
As a long established Haverhill firm we are the natural choice for all your accountancy and tax requirements
Contact Jon Griffey, Philip Hackett or Simon Iron or just call in to our offices on the Market Square, 2 Mill Road, Haverhill
! 01440 762024 www.hackettgriffey.com
!17 April 2019
St Andrew’s, West Wratting (10.45 am) SET UP FLOWERS CLEANING Sunday 7th April United Service, Balsham, 10.30 am Canon John Pinder n/a Lent n/a Sunday 14th April Songs of Praise (Palm Sunday), 4 pm John & Scilla Harvey n/a Lent Maggie Wednesday 17th April Compline, 7.30 pm Rev Kathy Bishop Sunday 21tstApril Holy Communion Very Rev Keith Johnson Alex Easter Sue – all available Sunday 28th April Holy Communion Rev Iain McColl Jenny Linda n/a
St Mary’s, Weston Colville (9.15 am) Revd Iain McColl tel: 890693 email: [email protected] Sunday 7th April United Service, Canon John Pinder Balsham, 10.30 am Revd Kathy Bishop, Associate Priest Sunday 14th April Morning Worship Steven Wheeler tel: 892288 email: [email protected] Very Revd Keith Johnson, Honorary Associate Priest Tuesday 16th April Compline, 7.30 pm Steven Wheeler tel: 890835 email: [email protected] st Sunday 21 April Holy Communion Mr Steven Wheeler, Licensed Lay Minister Sunday 28th April Holy Communion Rev Iain McColl tel: 290396 email: [email protected] Mr Alistair Collen, Licensed Lay Minister Roman Catholic Mass tel: 894230 email: [email protected] Every Saturday at 5.30 pm, Sundays at 10 am and noon, at Mrs Rosemary Mead, Authorised Lay Minister St Philip Howard Church, Cherry Hinton. Every Saturday tel: 891718 email: [email protected] at 6.30 pm, Sundays at 10 am, Haverhill (St Felix Roman Mr Keith Day, Authorised Lay Minister Catholic Church) tel: 891527 email: [email protected] DIARY Mrs Jeanine Kennedy, Pioneer Minister and LLM tel: 893838 email: [email protected] April 2019 Tue 2 Balsham Gardening Club Churchwardens: Wed 3 West Wratting Over 60s St Mary’s – Ian Ashbridge (291344) Coffee Morning, Ellesmere Centre, Stetchworth Philippa Coates (290842) Fri 5 Tea & Cakes, Weston Colville Reading Room First Friday Bridge, West Wratting St Andrew’s – Sebastian Bain (403415) Sat 6 Saturday Morning Café, West Wratting Alex Walsham (291491) Tue 9 Weston Colville Seniors, Reading Room Wed 10 Weston Colville Reading Room’Pub Quiz’ Parish Council Contacts: Sat 13 St Andrew’s Churchyard Spring Clear-up Weston Colville Parish Clerk – Jess Ashbridge, Mon 15 West Wickham & District Gardening Club [email protected] Wed 17 West Wratting Book Club West Wratting Parish Clerk – Jenny Richards, Thur 18 Lunch Club, The Chestnut Tree [email protected], 01223 665260 Sat 27 Jumble Sale, West Wickham Tapestry Singers Concert, Gt Abington Church Administrator: Caroline (Cazzy) Walshe, [email protected], 01223 891443 May 2019 Parish Nurse: Claire Gillett, Wed 1 Weston Colville Cinema Club, Reading Room [email protected], 07498 994205 Tue 7 Order deadline, West Wratting Oil Syndicate Sun 12 Order deadline, Weston Colville Oil Co-operative Mon 13 West Wratting Annual Parish Meeting Black bins: Monday 8th & Wednesday 24th April. Tue 14 Weston Colville Seniors Ely Cathedral Tour Tuesday 7th & Monday 20th May Wed 15 Weston Colville Annual Parish Meeting Blue & green bins: Mon 1st & 15th, Tuesday 30th April, Monday 13th & Tuesday 28th May
Editor: Anne Bragg (290550) or email: [email protected] Thank you for all your articles, news, etc. If these are sent by email, they are always acknowledged; if you don’t get a reply, nd th your items haven’t been received, so please resend. Some Mobile library: Tuesday 2 April, Tuesday 7 May contributions may have to be edited, to fit the space available, High Street, West Wratting 12.15 - 12.45 pm and are published at the discretion of the editor. Post Office, Weston Green 1.50 - 2.15 pm May issue’s copy date Mill Hill, Weston Colville 2.20 - 2.50 pm Saturday 20th April.
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